Origin of field-induced discontinuous phase transitions in Nd2Fe17


Origin of field-induced discontinuous phase transitions in Nd2Fe17

Diop, L. V. B.; Kuz'Min, M. D.; Skokov, K. P.; Skourski, Y.; Gutfleisch, O.

Magnetic properties of a trigonal ferromagnet Nd2Fe17 have been studied on single crystals in steady (14 T) and pulsed (32 T) magnetic fields. The easy-magnetization direction lies close to the [120] axis, deviating from the basal plane by 2.9° (at T = 5 K). Of particular interest is the low-temperature magnetization process along the high-symmetry axis [001], which is the hard direction. This process is discontinuous and involves two first-order phase transitions (FOMPs). One of them (at 20 T) is a symmetry FOMP similar to that observed in Sm2Fe17. The second transition (at 10.4 T) is unusual: as the magnetization turns abruptly toward the applied field, it also changes its azimuthal orientation (the angle ϕ) by 60°. Both transitions can be reasonably accounted for by the presence of a significant sixth-order trigonal anisotropy term.

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Publ.-Id: 27083